In this paper we prove and discuss some new (H p , L p )-type inequalities of weighted maximal operators of Vilenkin-Nörlund means with non-increasing coefficients. These results are the best possible in a special sense. As applications, both some well-known and new results are pointed out in the theory of strong convergence of Vilenkin-Nörlund means with non-increasing coefficients.2000 Mathematics Subject Classification. 42C10, 42B25.